# Chapter 27: The Information Broker
The Capital was loud. It was louder than the sect. It was louder than the town. It was a sea of noise. People shouted. Carriages rolled. Beasts roared. The sound washed over Lin Yu. It was constant. It was heavy. It pressed against his ears. He walked through the market. He kept his head down. He kept his hood up. He was Lin Feng. He was a mercenary. He was no one. But he# Chapter 27: The Information Broker
The Capital was loud. It was louder than the sect. It was louder than the town. It was a sea of noise. People shouted. Carriages rolled. Beasts roared. The sound washed over Lin Yu. It was constant. It was heavy. It pressed against his ears. He walked through the market. He kept his head down. He kept his hood up. He was Lin Feng. He was a mercenary. He was no one. But he was hunting.
The market was vast. It stretched for miles. Stalls lined the streets. They were made of wood. They were covered with cloth. The cloth was red. It was blue. It was green. It fluttered in the wind. Items hung from the beams. Swords. Armor. Pills. Herbs. Beast cores. Everything was for sale. Everything had a price. The smell was strong. It smelled of spices. It smelled of meat. It smelled of sweat. It smelled of money.
Lin Yu stopped at a stall. It sold weapons. The owner was a fat man. He wore a silk robe. He smiled when he saw Lin Yu. He saw the cloak. He saw the sword hilt. He knew a cultivator when he saw one.
"Looking for something?" the owner asked. His voice was smooth. It was oily.
"Just looking," Lin Yu said. His voice was rough. He did not look at the man. He looked at the swords. They were steel. They were iron. They were common. None were like the Silent Edge. None were like the Sword Box swords. But he needed to maintain his cover. He picked up a dagger. It was dull. It was heavy.
"Good quality," the owner said. "Ten spirit stones."
"Five," Lin Yu said. He did not bargain seriously. He just wanted to talk. He wanted to listen.
"Seven," the owner said. "Final price."
"Keep it," Lin Yu said. He put the dagger down. He turned away. He walked to the next stall. It sold pills. The smell was bitter. It smelled of herbs. The owner was a woman. She was old. Her hands were wrinkled. She was grinding herbs. She did not look up.
"Need healing?" she asked. Her voice was dry. It was like leaves crunching.
"Information," Lin Yu said. He kept his voice low. Only she could hear.
The woman stopped grinding. She looked up. Her eyes were sharp. They were gray. They saw everything. She looked at his cloak. She looked at his hands. They were calloused. They were strong. She looked at his feet. They were steady. She nodded. She knew. He was not a normal customer.
"Information costs," she said.
"I pay," Lin Yu said. He put a spirit stone on the counter. It was blue. It was high quality. It glowed faintly.
The woman took it. She put it in her sleeve. She did not count it. She knew the value. She leaned forward. She whispered. "What do you want to know?"
"The Guild," Lin Yu said. "The Beast Tamer Guild. The base in the north."
The woman's eyes narrowed. She looked around. The market was busy. No one was listening. No one was watching. But she was careful. She lowered her voice. "Why?"
"Work," Lin Yu said. "They are hiring. I want to know the pay. I want to know the risk."
"Risk is high," the woman said. "Pay is higher. But many do not come back."
"Where do they go?" Lin Yu asked.
"Deep," the woman said. "Into the ruins. Into the dark. They seek artifacts. They seek power. They seek blood."
"Blood," Lin Yu thought. The word echoed in his mind. It matched the memory. It matched the past life. The Guild used blood. They used sacrifice. They used death.
"Where is the fragment?" Lin Yu asked. He did not say it loudly. He whispered it. He used Qi to mask the sound. Only she could hear.
The woman froze. She looked at him. Her eyes widened. She was scared. She shook her head. "I do not know what you mean."
"You do," Lin Yu said. His voice was cold. It was like ice. He put another spirit stone on the counter. It was blue. It was bright. "You know. Tell me. Or I find someone else. And I tell them you told me."
The woman looked at the stones. She looked at Lin Yu. She knew she could not refuse. He was strong. She could feel his Qi. It was hidden. But it was there. It was heavy. It was dangerous.
"Building Seven," she whispered. "Behind the main hall. There is a vault. It is guarded. It is locked. It requires a key."
"Who has the key?" Lin Yu asked.
"The Master," the woman said. "He wears it. Around his neck. It is black. It is metal. It is shaped like a beast."
"The Tiger," Lin Yu thought. The mark. The memory. The man in the black armor. The Tiger Mark. It was here. It was now.
"Thank you," Lin Yu said. He took the stones back. He did not pay her. He threatened her. It was not heroic. It was necessary. He turned away. He walked away. He did not look back. He knew she would not talk. She was scared. She valued her life.
[Quest Updated.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was clear in his mind. It was calm. [Information Acquired. Location: Building Seven. Vault. Key: Tiger Amulet. Objective: Steal the Key. Reward: 1000 Energy.]
"Building Seven," Lin Yu thought. "Behind the main hall. Guarded. Locked."
[Yes. The fragment is inside. The vault is protected by formations. High level. Level 6. Level 7.]
"I need the key," Lin Yu thought. "The Master wears it. Around his neck."
[Yes. The Master is Level 8. Maybe Level 9. Direct confrontation is risky. Stealth is recommended.]
"I know," Lin Yu thought. "I will not fight him. Not yet. I will steal it."
Lin Yu walked through the market. He did not stop. He did not look at the stalls. He did not look at the people. He focused on the path. He focused on the goal. He needed to plan. He needed to prepare. He needed to know the Master's schedule. He needed to know when he was vulnerable.
He stopped at a food stall. He was hungry. He had not eaten since morning. The sun was high. It was noon. The heat was strong. He needed energy. He needed to think. He sat at a table. It was made of wood. It was rough. It was stained. He ordered noodles. They were cheap. They were hot. They smelled of broth. He ate quickly. He did not taste it. He just swallowed. It filled his stomach. It gave him energy.
He drank tea. It was bitter. It was green. It woke him up. He put the cup down. He looked at the street. People walked by. They talked. They laughed. They did not know the danger. They did not know the Guild. They did not know the war. Lin Yu touched the green scarf. It was around his neck. It was hidden under the cloak. It was soft. It was warm. It smelled like Mei Ling. Like flowers. Like home.
"I will come back," Lin Yu thought. "I promise."
He stood up. He paid. He walked away. He went back to the inn. It was quiet. The innkeeper was at the counter. He was counting coins. He looked up. He saw Lin Yu. He smiled. He was fat. He was sweating.
"Back?" the innkeeper asked.
"Yes," Lin Yu said. He took the key. He walked to the room. He locked the door. He put the chair under the handle. He did not trust anyone. He sat on the bed. He took out the map. He looked at it. He marked Building Seven. He marked the vault. He marked the Master's quarters. He marked the patrols. He marked the weak points.
He needed to know the Master's schedule. He needed to know when he slept. He needed to know when he trained. He needed to know when he was alone. He could not guess. He needed to watch. He needed to scout.
"Box," Lin Yu thought. "Can you scan the building?"
[Range Limited. Distance: 2 Miles. Maximum Scan: 500 Meters. Building Seven is 1 mile away. Partial scan possible.]
"Scan the perimeter," Lin Yu thought. "Find the guards. Find the formations."
[Scanning...]
A blue map appeared in his mind. It showed the building. It showed the energy lines. It showed the guards. It showed the traps. It was detailed. It was clear. Lin Yu memorized it. He closed his eyes. He visualized the path. He visualized the entry. He visualized the exit.
[Scan Complete. Guards: 20. Level: 3 to 5. Formations: Level 6. Weak Point: North Wall. Formation Gap: 10 seconds. Every hour.]
"Ten seconds," Lin Yu thought. "Every hour. That is the window."
[Yes. You must be fast. You must be precise. One mistake. You die.]
"I know," Lin Yu thought. "I will wait. I will watch. I will learn."
Lin Yu stood up. He walked to the window. He looked out. The street was busy. The sun was setting. The sky was orange. The shadows were long. The lights came on. The city changed. It was different at night. It was darker. It was more dangerous. The Guild was more active at night. They did their dark work in the dark.
He needed to go back. He needed to watch the building. He needed to confirm the scan. He needed to see the Master. He needed to see the key. He put on his cloak. He checked his sword. He checked his traps. He checked his pills. He opened the window. He jumped out. He landed on the roof. He ran. He was fast. He was silent. He was a ghost.
He reached the Guild Base. He hid in the shadows. He watched the building. He watched the guards. He watched the lights. He waited. One hour. Two hours. Three hours. The moon was high. It was white. It was cold. The street was quiet. The lights went out. Only the Guild Base was lit. It was black. It was ominous. It glowed faintly. It was the formation.
He saw a man. He came out of the main hall. He wore black robes. He wore a mask. He was tall. He was strong. Lin Yu felt the pressure. It was heavy. It was evil. It was the Master. He walked to Building Seven. He opened the door. He went in. He stayed for ten minutes. He came out. He locked the door. He walked away. He went to the main hall.
Lin Yu watched. He saw the key. It was around the Master's neck. It was black. It was metal. It was shaped like a tiger. It glowed faintly. It was the key. It was the target.
[Target Identified.] The Sword Box said. [Tiger Amulet. Key to the Vault. Fragment Inside.]
"I see it," Lin Yu thought. "He wears it. Always."
[Yes. It is bonded to him. It cannot be taken easily. It will alert him if removed.]
"Then I cannot steal it," Lin Yu thought. "Not while he wears it."
[Correct. You need to duplicate it. Or you need to lure him away. Or you need to break the vault.]
"Break the vault," Lin Yu thought. "The formation is Level 6. I am Level 4. Close to Level 5. I can break it. But it will make noise. It will alert the guards."
[Yes. Stealth will be compromised. Combat will be inevitable.]
"I am ready," Lin Yu thought. "I have the swords. I have the skills. I have the will."
[Caution. The Master is Level 8. He is strong. He is experienced. He will not fall easily.]
"I know," Lin Yu thought. "I will not fight him. Not yet. I will break the vault. I will take the fragment. I will leave. Before he comes."
[Probability of Success: 60%. Risk: High.]
"Good enough," Lin Yu thought.
Lin Yu waited. He waited for the guards to change. He waited for the shift. It happened every four hours. The guards were tired. They were sloppy. They talked. They laughed. They did not watch the shadows. Lin Yu moved. He used Wind Dancer. He was fast. He was like the wind. He was like a ghost. He reached the north wall. He waited. He watched the formation. It pulsed. It glowed. It faded. It was the gap. Ten seconds.
Now.
Lin Yu moved. He poured Qi into his legs. He jumped. He passed through the gap. He landed inside. He was in. He was silent. He did not trigger the alarm. He hid behind a crate. He waited. He listened. He heard footsteps. They were far. They were patrols. He waited for them to pass. They passed. He moved. He went to Building Seven. It was locked. It was sealed. He used Thunder Strike. He charged the lock. It was electric. It was fast. It broke. He opened the door. He went in.
It was dark. He lit a small flame. It was blue. It did not smoke. He looked around. It was a vault. It was small. It was filled with boxes. He opened them. They were empty. They were decoys. He looked deeper. He saw a pedestal. It was in the center. It was made of stone. It was carved with runes. On top was a box. It was black. It was locked. It glowed. It was the fragment. He felt it. It called to him. It called to the Box.
He walked to it. He reached out. He touched the box. It was cold. It was heavy. He tried to open it. It was locked. It required the key. The Tiger Amulet. He did not have it. He could not open it. He could not take it.
[Warning.] The Sword Box said. [Trap Detected. Energy Signature Changed. Alarm Triggered.]
Lin Yu froze. He felt it. The energy changed. It spiked. It was an alarm. It was silent. But it was sent. It was sent to the Master. He knew. He knew someone was here.
"Damn," Lin Yu thought. "It was a trap."
[Yes. The box is bait. The vault is a cage. You are inside.]
Lin Yu turned. He ran. He went to the door. It was locked. It was sealed. He could not open it. He was trapped. He heard footsteps. They were outside. They were heavy. They were strong. They were coming. The Master was coming.
[Combat Inevitable.] The Sword Box said. [Prepare.]
Lin Yu drew the Silent Edge. The black sword appeared. It hummed. It smelled the blood. It smelled the danger. He stood in the center. He waited. He did not hide. He did not run. He could not run. He had to fight. He had to win. He had to survive.
The door opened. The Master walked in. He wore black robes. He wore the mask. He wore the Tiger Amulet. It glowed. It was bright. He looked at Lin Yu. He laughed. It was a cruel laugh. It sounded like bones breaking.
"I knew you would come," the Master said. His voice was deep. It echoed. "You are predictable. You are weak. You are mine."
Lin Yu did not speak. He did not answer. He held the sword. He waited. He watched. He used Sword Sense. He felt the Master's Qi. It was huge. It was like an ocean. It was like a mountain. It was Level 8. Maybe Level 9. The gap was huge. But Lin Yu did not fear. He did not shake. He was calm. He was ready.
"I am not yours," Lin Yu said. His voice was calm. It was clear. It carried through the room. "I am my own."
The Master laughed again. He raised his hand. Dark energy gathered. It was purple. It was cold. It filled the room. The candles went out. The room was dark. Only the amulet glowed. It was red. It was like blood.
"Then die," the Master said. He threw a ball of energy. It was fast. It was huge. It aimed at Lin Yu's head. It would destroy him. It would erase him.
Lin Yu activated Sword Shield. The barrier appeared. It was white. It was solid. The energy hit it. *Boom.* The sound was loud. The shield shook. It held. But it cracked. Lin Yu stepped back. He coughed. Blood came out of his mouth. The power was too strong. It was too much.
"See?" the Master said. "You cannot win. You are an ant. I am a god."
"Gods bleed," Lin Yu said. "I have seen it."
Lin Yu raised the Silent Edge. He activated Sword God Form. His body glowed. He became white. He became light. He became energy. His power increased. He felt like he could cut the world. He felt like he could end the time. It was temporary. It was five minutes. He had to make it count.
He swung. One slash. It was silent. It was fast. It was white. It flew through the air. It cut the energy wave. It cut the air. It cut the space. It went to the Master.
The Master raised his hand. He blocked. *Clang.* The energy clashed. The Master stepped back. He was surprised. He was hurt. His sleeve was torn. His skin was cut. Blood flowed. It was red. It was hot. It dropped on the floor.
"You... you hurt me," the Master whispered. His voice was weak. He was shocked. He was angry. He was scared.
"I told you," Lin Yu said. "Gods bleed."
The Master roared. He poured all his energy into his hands. He wanted to destroy the room. He wanted to kill Lin Yu. He did not care about the building. He did not care about the guards. He wanted blood.
Lin Yu did not wait. He charged. He used Wind Dancer. He was fast. He was everywhere. He slashed. He cut. He stabbed. He used all four swords. Silent Edge. Flame Fang. Wind Dancer. Thunder Strike. He combined them. He created a storm. It was a Sword Storm. It was his new skill. It was powerful. It was deadly.
The Master blocked. He blocked. He blocked. But he was tired. He was hurt. He was slow. Lin Yu found the opening. He stabbed. The Silent Edge went into the Master's chest. It went into his heart. It stopped. The energy faded. The Master fell. He did not move. He was dead.
[Victory Achieved.] The Sword Box said. [Energy Gained: 5000. Current Energy: 10440. Level Up: Level 5. Level 6.]
Lin Yu sheathed the sword. He breathed hard. He was tired. His Qi was low. His body was hurt. But he was alive. He was standing. He won. He took the amulet. It was warm. It pulsed. It was the key. He opened the box. He took the fragment. It flew into his arm. It went to the Box.
[Fragment Acquired. Integration Started. Sword Box Evolution: 70%. New Skill Unlocked: Sword Mirage.]
Lin Yu felt the power. It was huge. He was stronger. He was closer. He had seven fragments. He needed three more. He looked at the body. He did not feel joy. He felt relief. He felt tired. He needed to leave. The guards were coming. He heard them. They were shouting. They were running.
He ran. He went to the wall. He jumped. He passed the gap. He landed outside. He ran. He did not look back. He went to the inn. He climbed in. He closed the window. He locked the door. He sat on the bed. He took out the scarf. He held it. It was soft. It was warm. He closed his eyes. He slept. He dreamed of swords. He dreamed of fire. He dreamed of a green scarf. He dreamed of home. He dreamed of victory.
The sun rose. The new day began. Lin Yu woke up. He was ready. He had the fragment. He had the power. He had the plan. He walked out of the inn. He walked into the crowd. He was hidden. He was safe. He was hunting.
The Capital was big. It was dangerous. But Lin Yu was not afraid. He was the exile. He was the hunter. He was the judge. And he was just getting started. The Sword Box hummed. It was ready. The sword sang. It was sharp. And Lin Yu was ready.
He walked on. He did not look back. The past was dead. The future was waiting. And Lin Yu would carve it with his sword.